3 + 2 Program

What is the 3+2 Program?

The 3+2 Program offered by the Lewis College of Business allows students to start their master’s degree while still completing their bachelor’s degree.

• The 3+2 Program is available to students enrolled in an undergraduate program in the LCOB.
• The following graduate programs are available through the 3+2 Program:
  • Master of Business Administration,
  • M.S. in Accountancy,
  • M.S. in Health Care Administration,
  • M.S. in Human Resource Management.
• Students enrolled in the program save time and money. Talk to your advisor to see if this program would be beneficial for your academic plans.

The 3+2 Program may be especially attractive for accounting majors, who can enroll in the program to meet the requirements for the M.B.A. or M.S.A. while completing the 150 hours required by the state of West Virginia to become a CPA. CPA requirements may differ among states so please research the CPA requirements for the state in which you plan to sit for the exam.

Do I have to be an undergraduate business major to participate in the 3+2 Program?

Yes. The 3+2 Program is open only to undergraduate business majors that meet the other eligibility requirements for their graduate program of interest.

What are the eligibility requirements?

Admission Requirements for Master of Business Administration

1. Senior status or be able to attain senior status after completion of the semester in which the student is currently enrolled;
2. Have completed all undergraduate foundation courses (ACC 215 Accounting Principles, ECN 250 Principles Microeconomics, and FIN 323 Principles of Finance) with a grade of “B” or better in each course by the end of the semester in which the student will be enrolled in the 3+2 Program;
3. Be reasonably likely to complete all undergraduate degree requirements within two semesters after being admitted to the 3+2 Program;
4. Have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better at the time of application.

Admission Requirements for Master of Science in Accountancy

1. Senior status or be able to attain senior status after completion of the semester in which the student is currently enrolled;
2. Have completed all ACC foundation courses (ACC 311 Intermediate Accounting I, ACC 312 Intermediate Accounting II, ACC 318 Cost Accounting I, ACC 341 Accounting Information Systems, ACC 348 Federal Taxation, ACC 429 Auditing I) with a grade of “C” or better in each course by the end of the semester in which the student will be enrolled in the 3+2 program or with approval of the department chair:
3. Be reasonably likely to complete all undergraduate degree requirements within two semesters after being admitted to the 3+2 Program;
4. Have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better at the time of application.

Admission Requirements for M.S. in Health Care Administration and the M.S. in Human Resource Management

1. Senior status or be able to attain senior status after completion of the semester in which the student is currently enrolled;
2. Be reasonably likely to complete all undergraduate degree requirements within two semesters after being admitted to the 3+2 Program;
3. Have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better at the time of application.

How many graduate classes can I take through the 3+2 Program and how are they applied towards my degrees?

Students that meet the requirements can enroll in up to nine hours of graduate coursework while still a senior. Students can double-count up to nine hours of graduate level courses from their graduate degree toward their bachelor’s degree requirements. Six hours of graduate work may count as a major required elective (for example, a graduate MGT class can count as a MGT elective for a management major) and three hours may count as free electives.

How do I apply for the 3+2 Program?

You can apply for the program once you reach junior status (60+ credit hours). We recommend that you apply for the program in the semester immediately before the semester that you want to take 3+2 classes. For example, if you want to take 3+2 classes in Fall 2022, you should apply for the program in Spring 2022.

You cannot begin taking classes until you officially have 90 earned credit hours (senior standing) and meet the other eligibility requirements for your program of interest.

When you are ready to apply, please go to the 3+2 Application webpage to complete the application.

I am a freshman or sophomore.  What can I do now to prepare for the 3+2 Program?

To prepare for the 3+2 Program, you need to keep your GPA above 3.0 and complete the foundation courses (if required for your program of interest).  It is important to meet with your advisor to create a plan to have your foundation courses completed in an appropriate time frame to be eligible for the 3+2 Program.

If you plan to participate in the 3+2 Program, it is valuable to save your free electives for your senior year. That way, you are making the most of being able to overlap undergraduate and graduate requirements!  Please ask your advisor for more details on this.

I have applied to the 3+2 Program.  Now what?

Once you apply and are ready to select a course to register for, you will need to contact Kelly Sowards, the Associate Director of the Brad D. Smith Graduate School of Business (304-696-3816 or kelly.sowards@marshall.edu).

Once you talk to Kelly and select a course for the upcoming semester, please complete the 3+2 Course Registration Form. You will need to complete a separate form for classes in different departments.  For example, you will need to complete two forms if you want to register for an ECN class and a MGT class. Once the form is fully approved by your academic advisor, the department chair of the class that you are requesting, and by Kelly, she will register you for the course.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

If you have any questions, please contact your advisor!  For more information on the graduate programs, please contact Kelly Sowards.

Do I only graduate one time if I participate in the 3+2 Program?

No.  Once all undergraduate requirements are met, students will apply to graduate with their bachelor’s degree.  Once all graduate requirements are met, students will apply to graduate with their master’s degree.

Does being admitted to the 3+2 Program make me a graduate student?

No. The 3+2 Program allows qualified students to take up to nine hours of graduate classes as an undergraduate student. This does not serve as official admission to the graduate program. In your last semester as an undergraduate student, you will need to fill out the application for the graduate program with the Graduate Admissions Office before you will be able to register for future terms as an official graduate student. The application can be found here at this link:  Apply – Admissions (marshall.edu).